Cappa moves to Miramax lot

Dicaprio, Diaz involved in 'Gangs'

After four years on the Disney lot, which included a one-year extension, Martin Scorsese and Barbara De Fina have moved their Cappa Prods. shingle over to Miramax Films, where they will have a first-look deal.

For the time being, the pact between Cappa (aka Cappa/De Fina) and Miramax is short term, though an extension is likely.

Scorsese and Miramax began production Monday in Italy on “Gangs of New York,” which stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Daniel Day-Lewis and Cameron Diaz. IEG and Miramax are financing the pic.

“We are thrilled” about the new deal, Miramax co-chairman Harvey Weinstein told Daily Variety. “It’s been a dream of mine for a long time, which became a reality with ‘Gangs.’ Marty’s production company has been supportive of Miramax ever since we started the company.”

Gotham-based De Fina added, “We look forward to a great, productive relationship with people who are not only terrific producers, but great distributors.”

Company will retain its Los Angeles office, headed by Sonja Grunden.

While Disney-based, Cappa produced “Kundun” and “Bringing Out the Dead,” the latter of which was distributed by Paramount domestically and Disney overseas.

In addition to a railroad pic he will do with Steven Spielberg (see separate story), Scorsese owes Warner Bros. a movie.

One likely future helming project is “Gucci,” about the family behind the Italian fashion house. Kathy Silverman and Lisa Bloch are writing the script.

Among the projects Cappa has put into development is “Mississippi Mud,” based on a true story about a Biloxi, Miss., murder in the 1970s. Gregor Nicholas is attached to direct from a screenplay by Laura Harrington.

Also on the Cappa slate: writer-director Gary Lennon’s dark comedy “.45,” with Heather Graham attached to star; English-language remakes of two Akira Kurosawa films, “High and Low” and “The Seven Samurai”; and “Love in Vain,” about blues guitarist Robert Johnson, from a script by Alan Greenberg.

Scorsese is completing a docu about Italian cinema, which has been funded by Italian television giant Mediaset.